Craig Ruvere

28Oct 2021 by CJ

Book banning in America is as antiquated as prejudice itself

The headline of a recent NPR.com article surprised me regarding book banning in America. A Texas lawmaker is targeting 850 books that he says could make students feel uneasy. Rep. Matt Krause – a Republican – stated that he explicitly targets books that "might make students feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress because of their race or sex." Apparently, Krause is running in a very crowded primary race in the state of Texas, and it's no great shock that he's trying to make a name for himself to stand out from the competition. His answer is the book banning letter he sent to school leaders of the state, which they must answer by November 12. What do school leaders in Texas think? "The inquiry is a disturbing and…

14Oct 2021 by CJ

Why Americans don’t want to work is not so cut and dry

Life & Living

From board rooms to classrooms to living rooms all across the country, a topic that continues to ignite conversations with little resolve is why Americans don’t want to work? The answer most people respond with when posed with such a question is that Americans are lazy and complacent living off government assistance programs. Businesses continue to blame labor shortages for slowdowns in manufacturing and ultimately how quickly and efficiently they can get their products into the hands of consumers. I’m certainly not denying that struggle is real and is impacting our global supply chain. But the question of why Americans don’t want to work is more complex than many realize — including me. In fact, it wasn’t until I stumbled upon a recent article in The Washington Post that I began to…

22Sep 2021 by CJ

The band-aid needs to come off if we’re to move forward as a nation

Life & Living

As a little boy, I always dreaded when it was finally time to remove the band-aid covering my scraped knee or cut elbow, which was a pretty common occurrence. My mother would lovingly apply antiseptic to clean the wound before covering it with the plastic and gauze tab to help protect it from infection. The band-aid felt comforting and even provided a feeling of safety, like the armor of a superhero shielding me from unpleasantries. But sooner or later the band-aid needs to come off This often raised my anxiety level and induced my brain to retreat into a state of fear. That fear over the excruciating pain caused by removing the band-aid was admittedly based more on false truths spread around by older classmates or friends and had little…

30Aug 2021 by CJ

The value of trust is the basis of a rewarding relationship

Love & Relationships

The news around The Ruvere House is we’ve finally embarked on a complete renovation of our kitchen – a project we’ve been discussing a plotting for the better part of a year. The kitchen is often referred to as the heart of the home, and it’s no different in our house. Who knew this project would also remind me of the value of trust. One of my wife’s hobbies is not only cooking but learning the science behind recipes and techniques. We often cook together in the kitchen – one of us leading and the other cleaning up after the other or gathering the necessary ingredients from the pantry. Our kitchen is more than just a room, but a place where beautiful memories are shared with each other, as well…

03Aug 2021 by CJ

Mental struggles do not need to define who you are

Generosity & Kindness

Did you ever look at another person closely and wonder what’s hiding behind their smile? Are they creating a fictitious persona whose purpose is simply to conceal their mental struggles? Does seeing that smile – the universal expression for joy, pleasure, excitement, satisfaction, and many others – cause you to perhaps inaccurately deduce that this person is void of life’s challenges and un-wanting of a kind word or a dose of unsolicited compassion? In a way, we’re all nothing more than actors in a play. Settings and circumstances vary from one scene to another, and therefore we must conform to specific roles we’re expected to portray either by society, co-workers, spouses, friends, or even ourselves. Frequently the motivation for such scenes is simple - smile, smile, smile! Never let the…